Franklin suggests that borrowing money gives a person a particularly clear sense of its value. Money received as a loan is not simply available to spend; it creates an obligation to repay. The borrower therefore becomes more conscious of what the money represents in future earnings, effort and reduced financial freedom.

The saying uses experience as a practical lesson in financial responsibility. Borrowing can make the cost of money more noticeable because repayment may require restraint, planning and sacrifice, and may also involve interest or other obligations. Franklin is not claiming that borrowing is always unwise, since credit can serve useful purposes. His broader point is that debt changes the way money is perceived: its value becomes clearer when each borrowed sum carries a corresponding claim on future resources.